Reply With Quote+1. He has serviced one of my Rolex watches and recently refinished a TAG bracelet for me. I have met him in person for the bracelet refinish and he is a top man. I believe he is taking courses to service Breitling and Cartier watches shortly.
I know this has been done before but i just thought i d add to this mans solid repututation regards repair and servicing, i took a couple of watches for a crystal and a minor repair and this was all done in the same day .Absolute top class service and a proper gentleman to boot and it certainly won t be the last time i use his services so i d look to use for him any of you out there that wants any servicing without having a long wait.
+1. He has serviced one of my Rolex watches and recently refinished a TAG bracelet for me. I have met him in person for the bracelet refinish and he is a top man. I believe he is taking courses to service Breitling and Cartier watches shortly.
He once installed an insert for me for free top bloke
Cheers for the heads up... I live 5 minutes away and overlooked him!
Yep, he's a top guy. I dealt with him last year and I`ve sung his praises several times on here.
Paul
This is music to my ears as my Rolex is with him as we speak. It's the first time I've used him and the good feedback I've heard from this forum prompted me to give him a try.
I'll add to this thread, all going well, when I get my watch back next week.
Ash
Good timing with the post as Im looking for somebody to service my 5513 and his name has come up. His price is quite reasonable too.
Thanks Keith
Just to add whilst picking my watches up W.Rice told me he now had just bought the equipment to be able to service/pressure test the deep sea.
Bill has serviced two GMT's for me and he fitted the Thomas Preik caseback to my GMT2c made it run to less than a sec/day and pressure tested it and when I picked them up he showed me how to change the bezel.
The services were done within the four weeks estimated and the cost a very reasonable.
Although he does not sign up on the watch forums he does have a quick look occasionally.
I'll be very happy for him to work on any others that need looking at :)
Last edited by Steve748; 22nd May 2013 at 21:49.
Well my watch, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, came back from William Rice today after 4 weeks to the day :)
It's as fresh as the day it left the factory. So far it's running absolutely bang on and I couldn't be happier, he's definitely getting my business from now on and comes highly recommended.
Ash
Bill just serviced a 32 year old GMT of mine :D
I had many 'special' requests like restoring chamfers and satin finish to match. Bill took the time to call me to discuss my requirements in detail and what he thought could be done. 3 weeks later it's back.
Price wasn't an issue for this job, the outcome was the key metric, I was willing to pay whatever it took to get the job done 100%. Not only is the final invoice far cheaper than Rolex UK, more importantly the outcome is BETTER than what I had hoped for - Rolex UK makes a mess of vintage pieces.
Bill also recommended keeping some parts to retain the vintage look and feel of the GMT. Rolex UK would have stripped everything and replaced with out-of-place modern parts as they've done to me previously :cry:
I am absolutely delighted that there are still watch makers out there who cares and listens to our individual requirements instead of a one size fits all approach when it comes to servicing and light refurb jobs.
Bill is getting all my business from now on :!: :) :)
PS it is running more accurately than my 10 month old Daytona.
Where is he based, please?
Woodmansey, HU17 0SA.Originally Posted by phil h
Takes RMSD.
I must agree, he is a top guy! :)
I sent two Explorer 2's to Bill about a month ago with a bit of a deadline for the end of this week. I went to pick them up on Thursday (even if it is a bit of a drive) as it is always a pleasure to meet Bill and his lovely wife Heather. The watches were both looking like new and gaining about a second a day, I'm a happy bunny and very grateful as Bill is very busy.
Oooh, I'm glad that the tone of this thread is still so positive as I've just dispatched (posted yesterday) my 1983 Submariner to William Rice's for a service and spruce up!
Handing valuable items to the bored and sullen yoof "serving :roll: " at the post office is always a bit of fingers crossed moment....I know it's all insured but I felt like one might feel if you had to leave your kids at a Gary Glitter concert.....should be OK but fingers crossed eh!!!!
And of course all the Post Office has to do is deliver it. They won't be the ones taking it apart and having a good poke around the innards and making decisions about polishing this and replacing that!
So, having positive feedback on the people entrusted to do the service, and realisng that the work will be done by someone called "Bill" who appears to care about his work and respect the wishes of his customers, rather than some faceless anonymous man in a white coat is one of the real benefits of this forum.
I'll readily admit to choosing Rices based on a search of the forum, value the other posters reviews of positive service received, and I'll make a point of updating this thread with a quick and dirty review of the service given when my watch returns.
:)
I book marked the website of this man so after these positive comments I think I will use his servies to service and repair my rolex when funds allow.
thanks.
Thanks for the heads up will remember the name when the time comes...
Got a feeling I might need to use Mr Rice's services:
Doh!! - sapphire and TCT don't mix too well............
great thread :)
have just sent Bill an email for an estimate for Rolex 16013 service. is there anything i should and shouldnt do with this piece? i'd like to keep this as original as possible.
thanks. :D
Top man!
Has he got a website ?
Cheers
John
Ignore above, just Googled and found !
John
Thanks for the advice. Need to get a 1947 Rolex 2508 serviced and will contact him for guidance.
Just because all of the positive posts about him, I've send my 14060M for a full service all the way from PORTUGAL. I will let you know about it in 4 weeks time.
Pedro
Any updates to tell us?
Not sure why this thread's been resurrected :?
I took a 1986 16013 Datejust to Bill in 2010 and he did an excellent job at a fair price. He also regulated another Datejust whilst I waited.
He does an excellent job and seems to take plenty of care to get the watches regulated correctly. His turnaround time is approx 1 month.
Currently, he's got a 11610 Submariner of mine for a service and my 16013 Datejust is having a dial swap....which I should've done when it was serviced. Ironic that I can now service all my own Omegas (except chronos......not brave enough yet) but I wouldn`t touch a Rolex.....so I still have to pay for them seing to.
Unfortunately Bill's had to raise his prices in line with the Rolex edict, although the guarantee period is now 2 yrs. I reckon he's 20% cheaper than using a Rolex AD or Rolex UK.
Overall, a great guy to deal with.......and I do get free advice when I contact him :)
Paul
He serviced my 5513 last month. Bill and Heather were excellent to deal with.
As I remember they were almost half the price of what RSC wanted to charge me!
Hello folks
Dug this htread from the depths.
Is Wlliam Rice still servicing Rolex watches? Mine's in dire need of a service, but I can't find a website/phone number. Anyone help?
http://williamricewatches.com/
He is local to me, still working as far as I’m aware.
You'r a star - cheers! I've just emailed him
Update. Apparently he can’t service the Seadweller as it’s a Rolex policy?
Anyone any recommendations for an independent servuce?
I used Steven Hale and they were excellent.
Have you any contact details?
I just Googled Steven Hale and this was the first result:
https://www.shwr.co.uk/
Yep, all good. Sent a message to him. Hopefully he'll get back to me ASAP
Hale's on the pricey side and someone here recently had to return watch as timekeeping was way off cosc.
I’d send it to Rolex
You save very little by using Rolex accredited indie’s
If it’s vintage then it’s a different matter
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...5513-servicing
Looks like it’s off to the mother ship for it’s service. Steven Hale can’t do it
Cheers amigo, that’s the one. ;)
https://www.prestigetimeservices.co.uk/
Comes recommended. And might be relatively close to you?
Has anyone used Bill Rice recently? The website makes no mention of Rolex accreditation (it did in the past) but does state that only genuine Rolex parts are used.
Talked to him a few months ago. He didn’t keep the accreditation as it was getting too restrictive and he’s getting close to retirement. They still have a large amount of genuine spares so are still servicing, but with no Rolex accreditation.
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